All Saints Episcopal Church, Hilton Head Island, SC
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THOUGHTS AND REFLECTIONS from the Rector
Stewardship + Growth = Healthy Parish
Stewardship: ALL we do with ALL we have ALL the time
There was once a parish priest who was fond of telling stories to the children of the parish. He would always pose a question at the end of his stories to make sure they got the point. Over time, the children had learned that the answer was always “Jesus.” Regardless of the story, it was always about Jesus, and their customary answer was “Jesus.” They had this guy figured out!
Well, one Sunday, in front of the entire congregation, the priest told another story to the children, and it went something like this: In a deep, dark, and wild forest, there were many large and small animals on the ground and in the trees. One small animal in particular loves to climb trees, using the bark to scamper up and down with amazing speed. This animal has beady little eyes and quick movements that make its head twitch from side to side. It has a long tail that is always moving, even when this animal is still, clinging to the tree. In fact, you have seen this particular animal in your own back yard. I want you to think for a moment and answer this question: what am I talking about?
The children were quiet, their eyes darting from one to another. They looked bewildered and somewhat confused…and there was silence. The priest looked at the children, and then at the congregation, and then back to the children. He, too, was bewildered and now a bit frustrated. He had never experienced this before. They always knew the answer. What’s wrong today? No answer, not even from the brightest child.
He repeated the question, hoping it would stimulate an answer. Same result from the children. Then a tiny tentative hand went up from the youngest child present. A smile came over the priest, and he looked at the child as if he were parting the Red Sea with his intensity, hoping that this child would offer the correct answer. The child said, I think the answer is a squirrel, but the real answer is Jesus!
Over the years we have been conditioned to believe the answer is always money when the word stewardship is spoken. We have been conditioned to raise our defense, roll our eyes, and groan when the word stewardship is uttered.
Let’s face it: Christian Stewardship has a bad reputation among many Episcopalians. For years it was the code word for the every-member canvass. The church needs money, so call it stewardship. The pledge campaign, call it stewardship. The truth is STEWARDSHIP sums up our lives as Christians, but it is not exclusively about money. It is about every ounce and breath of our lives: ALL WE DO WITH ALL WE HAVE ALL THE TIME. In the coming months and years, you will hear about stewardship in connection with your lives and the life of this parish. You will hear about stewardship as a noun and as a verb, and it won’t be a euphemism for money.
For All Saints, stewardship will be tied to the word “growth” as in parish growth, spiritual growth, with the sense that we need to GROW…not simply for the sake of growing larger as a parish but with the opportunities that growth in membership affords. New folks bring new energy, new skills, new excitement, and new visions for ministry. Growth in membership brings new possibilities.
I want to highlight growth in membership because we are called by Our Lord to reach out with our very lives with the freedom of the Gospel. I also want growth because I believe we have something powerful and exciting to share. We are a unique parish in this part of the world, and although we are partially hidden by our physical location, our message of inclusiveness and radical welcome is a critical message and reality to the world about us.
Stewardship of our lives and the vision we have for All Saints is useless unless the doors of this parish, and the hearts of our members, are open to the next person who seeks a faith or has one. It is here where that faith can be discovered and where it can flourish.
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A STEWARDSHIP MINUTE
We know Jesus as Lord and Savior. We know him as Friend and Companion. Today, let’s consider him as a steward, as one who fulfilled his mission as an earthly servant with a heavenly frame of mind.
Toward the end of his physical life, Jesus offered the following prayer to God:
I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do (John 17:4).
He meant that his time of servitude on earth was coming to an end. He was referring to his various roles that were meant to show God’s hope for humanity. Think of the many facets of Christ’s stewardship: He served as teacher, minister, healer, comforter, prophet, and ultimately as Savior. He had been the consummate steward in that he served God perfectly in every way. Christ revealed the basic essentials of stewardship, which are: Accepting responsibility from God and using one’s time, talent, possessions, and self to serve God and others.
This month’s focus on Stewardship reviews Christ’s own “report” on his stewardship. He gave an account of his stewardship before God at the last judgment. Hopefully, at that time, we can say with Jesus, “I have glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do.”
Prayer: Loving Creator, the challenges before us seem enormous as we strive to serve you. Help us to remember that we can courageously meet every test through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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THE DEACON’S REFLECTIONS
I Didn’t Feel Like It…
In the 1990’s I was living in Connecticut, working as a Professor of Spanish and spending much of my spare time looking after my aging parents. But in 1995 they moved to New York and my sister took over those duties. At that point my spiritual director suggested a way to use that reclaimed spare time. He pointed out that there were many Latino people living in the nearby city of Bridgeport, and these folks really needed help. Since I knew Spanish, he thought that I should study to become a deacon and do these people some good. I explained to him that Spanish wasn’t the be all and end all for me, and some of the native Spanish-speaking colleagues in my department had soured me on their culture. I told him that it sounded like a lot of work, and I wasn’t willing to give up my newly acquired spare time. In short, I didn’t feel like becoming a deacon.
In 2001, before my husband Kerry and I retired and moved to South Carolina, my spiritual director again suggested that I look into becoming a deacon. I would certainly have more time now, and since his advice had been consistently helpful, I felt that exploring this possibility was something that I really “should” do. So I began to look into becoming a deacon – but cautiously.
At many points along the road, I asked myself, “Why am I doing this? I’m retired. I’m supposed to be having fun now, right? A good time with maybe a couple hours of volunteer work each week on the side sounds about right.” At one point in deacon school I said to Kerry, “This is hard work, and there are a lot of hassles. Why don’t I just quit?” And he responded, “Do you like the courses you are taking?” I said, “Yes, I like them a lot.” And he said, “Why not keep your options open? If you like the courses, keep taking them. You can quit later if you want to.” His suggestion made sense.
In 2004 one of our parishioners, Gary Good, noticed that the Latino day laborers who waited for work by the side of Rte. 278, across from the Four Seasons condo complex, looked hot and thirsty. Inspired by Matthew 10:42, where Jesus said, “And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward," Gary suggested that we start a “cool drinks” ministry to bring water and sandwiches to these people. My first thought was, “Great idea, Gary! YOU do it!” But I was studying to be a deacon, and it was the kind of thing a deacon candidate “should” do, so I became involved.
Lent seems like an appropriate time to own up to our shortcomings; I could add dozens of examples of times when I felt called to do some good work, something I “should” do, but I really didn’t feel like doing it. Even today, when the alarm goes off at 6:00 a.m. on a teaching morning, what goes through my mind is “I don’t want to get up!”
Some people seem to be kind and generous almost by nature – perhaps you are one of them. I can assure you that it doesn’t come naturally to me. Something in me still wants my life to be merely comfortable, convenient, and of course, fun. In other words, something in me wants my life to be quite small. But now that most of my time is spent doing a deacon’s tasks – serving others, helping others – I feel more peace and fulfillment than I ever did before, and I would never go back to my old life. To borrow St. Augustine’s words, “Lord, too late have I loved Thee.”
God will use any hook at all – with great patience - to draw us into partnership with Him to build his kingdom of compassion on this earth. In my case He used my sense of duty and the nudging of several good people. Sometimes He uses the jolts in our lives – a betrayal, a job loss, or bereavement – to wake us up. Other times He uses a person to issue the invitation. I believe that if He can use someone like me, He can use anybody.
He is always there for us, waiting for us, hoping that we will trust his call. His call to do what? In Matthew 25 Jesus gives us the answer: “’… when I was hungry, you gave me food; when thirsty, you gave me drink; when I was a stranger, you took me into your home; when naked, you clothed me; when I was ill, you came to my help; when in prison, you visited me.’ Then the righteous will reply, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and fed you, or thirsty and gave you drink, a stranger and took you home, or naked and clothed you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and come to visit you?’… ‘Truly I tell you; anything you did for one of my brothers here, however insignificant, you did for me.’”
Sandy
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SENIOR WARDEN’S COMMENTS
The 2008 Vestry Retreat was held February 8-9 to begin organizing for the new year. The retreat was facilitated by our own Rev. Dr. Robert Hansel who helped us to better define the vestry’s role. One change coming out of the retreat is to strengthen the All Saints commissions by having the each one chaired by non-vestry parishioners who are then supported by vestry liaisons.
The 2008 organization chart is almost complete and will be posted on the church website and published in next month’s Pelican’s Bill.
The Vestry officers for 2008 are: Senior Warden, Fred Hill; Junior Warden, Sue Senden; Clerk, Kerry Grant; Treasurer, Mark Szen; and Chancellor, Michael Jordan.
--Fred Hill
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BISHOP LAWRENCE COMES TO ALL SAINTS
Mark your calendars NOW for a very special First Wednesday Program on Wednesday, March 5. The Rt. Reverend Mark J. Lawrence, newly consecrated bishop of the Diocese of South Carolina, will preside over this program.
Bishop Lawrence will celebrate and preach at the evening liturgy beginning at 5:15 p.m., followed by our community dinner. After dinner, Bishop Lawrence will conduct a program on Lenten Meditations from 6:30-8:00 p.m. (note that this evening’s program will last 30 minutes longer than usual).
We welcome Bishop Lawrence to All Saints and hope that you will join us.
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DR 2008 MISSION OUTREACH
Team Plans: Plans for the 2008 All Saints mission trips to La Redencion Iglesia Episcopal in Barahona, Dominican Republic, to build Christian relationships are well underway.
The construction trip is planned for April 26-May 3 and, to date, a team of five is at the ready with openings for a few more ‘good men or women’! The work this year is expected to involve hanging doors and windows and painting. If you have an interest in the trip, call Fred Finn at 705-2317 right away.
The dates for Vacation Bible School at La Redencion in Barahona are planned for June 22-29. VBS veteran Soozi Williams will lead a team from All Saints and Ascension & Holy Trinity in Cincinnati (Wyoming, OH). The programs are great fun for children and helpers alike! Speaking Spanish is not a requirement. Call Linda Lanier at 681-9155 for more information.
Student Scholarships: The gift of an education for a child who otherwise may not attend school is the greatest gift one can give. Through the student scholarship program at Centro Buen Pastor, a school in Barrio (neighborhood) Las Flores of San Pedro de Macoris, you can make a difference. A full scholarship of $300 pays the tuition and the cost of a uniform for one year. A partial scholarship, no matter how small, is appreciated and can be combined for a full scholarship. Checks may bed made payable to All Saints Episcopal Church and earmarked for a student at Buen Pastor.
If you have questions, contact Loni Saunders at 686-3990.
--Bonnie Gruetzmacher
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GARDEN TOUR NEWS
The countdown has begun…it is only a little over two months until THE DAY! Yes, Saturday, May 17, is what we are all working towards. But, let’s take a moment to stop and think about where we are and what is left to do.
Of course, the very important Art Exhibition/Poster Contest event was a huge success, and more paintings were sold than ever before, adding even more funds for our six chosen charitable causes. We cannot thank you all enough!
The next scheduled event is the Premier Party on Sunday, May 4, at Margaret and Ken Collins’ home on the banks of the beautiful May River. Kim Alcock and her committee are hard at work planning that event which will honor all the garden owners. Sara Dodenhoff is in charge of the ticket sales for the event and is currently working with Joe Bell to prepare the tickets.
Can you believe that we have nine private gardens as well as the Heritage Farm in Sea Pines all busily preparing for the tour? What a diverse and gorgeous collection of gardens we will have this year! We can hardly wait for you to see them! But wait…that means we need hostesses and parking guides for every site. And then there is the luncheon, the boutique, and the bakery to stock and staff the day of the Tour.
Ah, yes, there is a lot more work to do. So please stand by as we count down to Kick Off Sunday in April. Each and every one of you can be a part of this gift to the community through the beauty of a garden. We will need you!
--Rosalie VanDam, Chair
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LAY READER, CHALICE BEARER, ACOLYTE
The opportunities to take part in the Sunday and Thursday services at All Saints have expanded.
If you have a calling to serve as a Chalice bearer at the Sunday service but are not comfortable as a Lay Reader, it is now possible to heed this calling. Conversely, if you would like to be a reader but are not comfortable with (or able to) administer the Chalice, this ministry is also possible.
Additionally, there are some Sundays when the youth who regularly serve as acolytes are not available and someone is needed to take their place. Many of our parishioners are former acolytes, and they are most welcome to return to this ministry.
Also, if you feel you would be more comfortable at a small service, there are opportunities to read and assist with the Chalice at the Thursday, 10:00 a.m. service. And if you hear a calling to a special ministry, consider taking Communion to those at the Preston Health Center on Sundays.
If you are interested in any of these ministries, please contact Brad Tufts or Mark Brinkmann.
--Brad Tufts
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NEW MUSIC DIRECTOR NAMED:
Stephen Branyon accepts Music Director's position
All Saints was flooded with inquiries and applications from all points in the United States and one from Canada for the position of Music Director. The parish may remember Stephen, who has often filled in for our organist over the last five years. Stephen is currently on the music staff at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Savannah.
Stephen brings to this community extensive experience, enthusiasm, and energy as well as a vision for the music at All Saints. He sees the Hilton Head public schools, right at our doorstep, as a perfect place to sow the seeds for children and youth music programs at All Saints.
We are very blessed to welcome Stephen among us as our Music Director!
With the call of Stephen we are indebted to Rich Mays who so graciously agreed to be our interim Music Director, his second stint in that position in three years.
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VOLUNTEER DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR NAMED:
Dale Hansel called to non-paid staff position
We are most fortunate to welcome Dale Hansel, a member of the parish, as a non-paid member of the parish staff responsible for congregational development. Envisioned as a position to support our new member process of integrating a person into the life of the parish, Dale has offered to support those involved in this important ministry and to offer insight and programs that address all the members of the congregation. Strengthening the entire parish family and offering visible support to the congregation’s development ensures that gifts and talents, mission and ministry, will not go overlooked as we move forward as a parish.
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ARE YOU HIS DAUGHTER, REALLY?
Well, of course you are, but how do you show your love for your Heavenly Father?
Are you swamped at a job all day? Do you have young children to raise? Are you caring for elderly relatives? Are you spread too thin, a slave to your computer?
Do you want to give back to Him, but you can’t figure out how and when or where? There is a fairly easy way to do this, a pleasurable fulfilling way – a way that costs no money and can be done anywhere.
Intrigued?
Become a Daughter of the King! This religious order is open to any Episcopal woman who wishes to sincerely commit to showing Christ’s love for others through prayer. Prayer can be done anytime, anywhere. Daughters consider praying for others a privilege and a blessing. All Daughters maintain current prayer chains through paper copies, email, and by phone. There are minimal yearly dues and twice-monthly meetings.
All Saints’ chapter meets in Gordon Mann hall on the first and third Wednesday afternoons of each month. We have a short business meeting and read and discuss spiritual books.
Nothing is required but your prayers. You will become a part of a nationwide sisterhood of women who demonstrate their love for Christ through fervent prayer for others.
I would like to invite any woman to call or talk with me or any of our members at church. You can tell us by our silver crosses which we always wear. I can be reached at raffsmom@yahoo.com or at 671-2295.
--Lois Southwick, President
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EASTER DINNER BASKETS
Once again it is time to think of those less fortunate than we are. We will be putting together Easter dinner baskets for 12 Island families referred to us by Deep Well.
A sign-up sheet is located in Gordon Mann hall for those wishing to sponsor a family. The sheet indicates the size of the family, including the number of children.
Groups, such as your supper club, as well as individuals may sign up as a sponsor. Sponsors are responsible for buying the food and delivering it to their family during Holy Week.
Also, you will find a basket in the narthex for food donations from those who cannot sponsor a family. In addition to donating food items, cash donations are always welcome. Your check should be made out to All Saints Church, notation “Easter Baskets.”
Thank you, as always, for helping with this All Saints Outreach project.
If you have questions, please email raffsmom@yahnoo.com or call 671-2295.
--Lois Southwick
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CODA SEEKS DONATIONS
CODA (Citizens Opposed to Domestic Abuse) has asked that donations of home cleaning items, paper towels, and toilet paper be dropped off in the CODA corner of the parish hall for the next several weeks. Many thanks to all who contributed to the winter clothing drive.
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FOR THE FRIDGE—DATES TO NOTE
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HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE
March 16, Palm Sunday – services at 8 and 10:15 a.m.
March 17, 18, 19 – Holy Eucharist at 6:00 p.m.
March 20 – Holy Eucharist at 6:30 p.m., stripping of the altar
March 21 – Good Friday, noon
March 23 – Easter Day, Festival Holy Eucharist Rite II at both the 8 and 10:15 a.m. services
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‘THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH ISN’T DYING’
[Editor’s Note: the following appeared in the Feb. 16 edition of “The Island Packet” – in case you didn’t see it, or even if you did, it is certainly worth reprinting here.]
News flash: The majority of Episcopalians in the United States recently voted to stay in the ‘Episcopal Church.
They did so by going to church, by receiving Communion, by participating in God’s mission and ministry, by praying, preaching and acting on God’s holy word, by working with youth and the elderly, by doing all the myriad things that they have been doing through the history of the church, and by proclaiming, in many and varied ways, the love of God for all of God’s beloved children.
Why is this a news flash?
Because if you read the newspapers or follow events in the church online, all you read about are the congregations that are splitting up, about priests leaving, about lawsuits in which the Episcopal Church and its dioceses are being forced to defend the canonical structures of the Church in order to keep the property of the Church.
And if that is all you read – in newspapers or online – no one would criticize you for thinking that the Episcopal Church in the United States was [on] the verge of collapse.
So it is a news flash to find out the Episcopal Church is not teetering on that verge, and that the majority – the vast majority – of members have decided not only to stay, but to get on with God’s mission and ministry in this broken world.
Which just goes to prove, once again, that bad news still sells, good news does not.
The bad news is, some parishes, some priests, some individuals, and at leas the leadership of one diocese have left the Episcopal Church. Which certainly is newsworthy.
But the good news far outweighs that bad news, for the good news is that the majority of Episcopalians in this country are staying.
The latter bit of news certainly is not exciting, and as one who spent more than two decades editing newspapers, I can tell you, excitement outsells the same-old-same-old every single day of the week.
But excitement doesn’t trump the truth, and the truth is, the Episcopal Church is in fine fettle, thank you very much, and those of us who are staying would like the rest of the world to know this.
We would like you to know of the extraordinary ministry we are doing: that every single day, some Episcopalian somewhere is heading off on a mission trip; the poor are fed; Sunday School lessons being prepared; children are cared for; prisoners are visited; prayers are said; sermons are prayed over; choirs are practicing music ancient and modern; the ill are comforted; advocacy for God’s kingdom is taking place; baptismal preparation is held; relationships are built; marriages solemnized; and loved ones are being buried in both grief and celebration.
We who engage in these ministries cele- brate that fact every single day, and while it would be nice to get more coverage of this work, no one is doing this work for the coverage in newspapers and online. We are doing this work because this is what God has called us to do, and that’s good enough for us.
Part of what makes us stay is the realization that despite all the controversies revolving, in great part, about sexuality and gender, the majority of the church, and the majority of the Anglican Communion to which the church belongs, does not care one whit about those controversies.
The Rev. Musonda Trevor Mwamba, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Botswana, said as much recently at the convention of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina. The majority of Anglicans around the world, he said, do not care about the disputes over sexuality, or about the possible split in the Anglican Communion.
“The truth of the matter is…we must understand the majority of African Anglicans, about 37 million, are not bothered by the debate about sexuality,” Bishop Mwamba told the North Carolina convention. “The majority of African Anglicans…have their minds focused on life and death issues, like AIDS, poverty…and not on what the church thinks about sex or the color of your pajama pants. Villagers who live on less than one dollar a day aren’t aware this is going on.”
You can read, in the newspapers or online, nearly every single day about some parish or priest or even a diocese leaving or talking about leaving the Episcopal Church. And if that is all the news you read about the Episcopal Church, it surely would seem that it is falling apart, and that its demise is imminent.
Which is why you need to read the following again:
News flash: The majority of Episcopalians in the United States recently voted to stay in the Episcopal Church.
--The Rev. Lauren R. Stanley (currently serving in the Diocese of Renk in the Episcopal Church of Sudan). McClatchy-Tribune News Service
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